It was a rare moment of levity in what had been a most trying trek that had lasted weeks longer and yielded far fewer results than any had imagined. They had returned home lean of frame and down in spirits. The priests had not embraced their friend's ministry, as all had assumed they would.
Jesus pulled the boy into a hug. "Very good, Ameil. Very good. You have indeed listened well!"
Dressed in a blue shawl tugged over her head, even within her own house, Mary entered, chiding, "Ah, will you not break even for supper?"
Jesus lifted Ameil high into the air and tossed him high before catching him barely above the ground. The boy squealed in delight, but Jesus' tone sobered. "It has been an excellent lesson, but it is time to seek your hearths and prepare the table before your mothers scold you."
Mary frowned, but Jesus grinned to assuage her feelings.
"Will you teach us about shearing tomorrow?" Ameil asked excitedly. "I so want to learn so I might help with the sheep this summer!"
Kissing the boy on the cheek, Jesus set him down. "Of course! And the day after Sabbath we will speak of the proper care of chickens."
Ameil's eyes lit up as if given the sweetest tidbit. "Promise?"
Judas felt the room tense. Mary especially. She might be perturbed with her son, but no one was allowed to question Jesus' moral might. Judas went to apologize, but his friend was already patting Ameil on the head.
"On my honor," Jesus swore solemnly.
The boy gave a joyful cry, and with the rest of the children, poured out of the room, their shouts carrying on a slight breeze that rustled the parchments Thomas was writing upon.
Mary eyed the gathering of them and shook her head as she turned to walk from the room. "Supper will be ready before the sun sets."
"Might you linger for a few moments? We have matters of great urgency to discuss before breaking bread."
Looking at her son, it was clear that his mother was proud to be included but equally annoyed that Jesus' followers were all living under her roof. "Food does not prepare itself for so many. I will retreat to the kitchen, where a woman serves her family best."
Everyone's eyes darted to Magdalene. The barb was not at all tempered, but the dark-haired beauty meekly continued sewing. Jesus' mother might have resented the lot of them, but this woman she openly disdained.
And Judas could understand why. Ever since they had found Magdalene locked in the cellar, convulsing on the dirt floor, Jesus had been devoted to her. The younger Mary's family had thought her cursed and placed her far from the village's suspicious eyes before they were blamed for her possession.
He, James, Thomas, and Matthew had knelt beside Jesus on that cold, earthen floor through the night. None of them thought that the afflicted woman would survive to see the sunrise. But Jesus had fed her thick syrups and thin potions he had learned from the Essenes. With each course of medicinals, Jesus laid his hands upon her and a demon fled her body. Still, even when her form quieted, Magdalene's mind was closed. Nothing could rouse her. Mary would seem truly dead, then convulse into another seizure. They repeated the medicinals and prayers each time until seven demons were cast out, and she suddenly awoke.
Since Mary and Jesus' eyes had locked that misty morning, they were near inseparable. Magdalene's brother had escorted her to Jesus' door, then surrendered her into the Virgin's care, but would not cross their threshold, and returned to the village of Zagar without a glance back.
"We will be only a few moments then, Mother," Jesus said, breaking the humid silence that had settled between them.
With the faintest snort, Mary left, but her son did not seem to notice her displeasure. Instead, he turned to James. "In a week's time, we will go forth into the world and truly begin my ministry."
"Brother, we have tried, but were nearly stoned in Gergesa, and the kind rabbis of Hippo threatened to turn us over to the Romans for agitation."
But at this, Jesus smiled. "That is where we made our miscalculation. I had thought John remiss for reaching out to the people themselves and eschewing the priests, but I see now how wise he was."
Thomas stirred from his writing. "And he has gained the Romans' ire for it. Throngs flock to him wherever he appears, so they have a legion of their stoutest centurions following as well."
"In all the time in the desert, the one thing God did not tell me was that spreading his love would be a simple task. It is to the people we must embark." Jesus' eyes lit up. "Just like these children, I will embrace them to my bosom."
Andrew shook his head. "But they are not learned. They understood nothing of your words."
"Ah, but they listened, dear Andrew, they listened!" Jesus laughed aloud, then sobered. "Did a single rabbi heed a word I uttered?"
Andrew could not retort, for Jesus was right. His lessons of love flew in the face of their power. They seemed to care only how God's word might favor them.
Jesus continued, "Upon the start of the next week, we shall go north. We will fill our number with twelve disciples." He inclined his head toward Magdalene. "Mary knows why she cannot be counted."
She nodded in agreement, but once Jesus' eyes left her, Magdalene's lips pinched. She might know the reason, but she did not seem to like it.
Jesus did not appear to notice this Mary's unease either, for he continued, "Once full of health, we shall visit every village in Judea where I will hear their hearts so they might hear mine."
James sighed. It was clear that he did not think his concerns would sway his brother, but he seemed equally obliged to voice them. "I know you believe God will provide, sweet brother, but we have emptied our coffers. How will we travel with so long without work? How will we feed our families?"
"For once I welcome you asking, James." He nodded to Magdalene, who produced a large purse from the folds of her dress. Jesus opened the drawstring so that the silver coins glistened in the candlelight. "Magdalene has been kind enough to offer her dowry to our ministry."
All were speechless as James ran his fingers through the coins. "It is most generous, but within a year we will be once again reduced to paupers."
Jesus' lips turned up, but in a sad smile. "I do not think we need to figure that far ahead." Brightening, he grasped his brother's shoulder. "This will see all of us through to Passover, will it not?"
James' eyes clouded as he went to take the purse, but Jesus withdrew the leather pouch.
It was Magdalene who spoke. "James, you know I hold you above reproach." She bowed her head to the other men. "As I do you all, but I have seen Judas barter with the villagers and Romans alike. He has no equal. To gain an entire cart of hay for a half copper was truly remarkable."
James went to retort, but Judas was quicker. "I could not take on such a responsibility. It has always been James' place to care for the earnings and shall always be."
Jesus looked at both of them. "I have long burdened my brother with the upkeep of our household. It is time that he be able to follow his heart and study the Scriptures rather than our finances. Would you not welcome such a relief, James?"
Judas was not so sure James agreed wholeheartedly with the sentiment, but after Jesus' impassioned speech, how could he contradict his brother? And now Judas was in the same quandary. How could he deny helping James?
A warm smile spread across Jesus' lips. "Then it is agreed."
Magdalene's cheeks blushed as she passed the purse over to him. Judas had never held such a sum before. It weighed heavily in his hand, especially as the others looked upon him as if he were not worthy. But what could he do? No one disagreed long with Jesus. How could you think yourself better equipped to argue than the Son of God?
"Well then, I should join your mother in the kitchen, or we might find ourselves without dessert," Magdalene said as she rose.
As she passed, Jesus her hand brushed against his knee in a most casual manner. Judas' eyes darted to James. Was there an engagement between the two that he was not privy to? But James sharply shook his head. The other men did not seem to notice, so Judas made no issue of the touch. What happened between Jesus and Magdalene was a private matter.
Once she was gone, James rose. "We have much to arrange if we leave within the week."
Andrew nodded. "I shall send word to John."
"The merchants are closed, but I shall assemble a register of foods we shall carry with us," said Philip. He continued, "I do not wish to find ourselves on the wrong end of a bargain for grain as we did in Gamela."
The others made their exit, leaving only Jesus, James, and Judas. It was not that he thought himself such a familiar to linger with the brothers. It was just that Judas was loath to gain his feet in front of the others.
After sitting so long, his right leg did not cooperate, and his rising was a most awkward sight. Even if he stumbled only a little, Judas felt the others judged him as weak. Their eyes were always questioning why Jesus had included one such as he in their esteemed rank. So Judas waited until he was certain that the men had gone before he braced himself, using the wall to help his ascent, but Jesus grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet.
"Thank you," Judas said, then quickly added, "for all the favors you have given."
James retorted as he exited, "I would not be so quick to thank, Judas."
What a strange thing to say, Judas thought. He had felt James beyond any petty feud they might have had, but when he turned to Jesus he could see in his friend's eyes that James knew something he did not.
"I now know why John said you would be the one to suffer the most."
Judas flinched at the Baptist's name. He had tried so very hard to block the man's prophecy from his mind.
"I fear Ameil cannot accompany us for so long a journey," Jesus added.
Judas was quick to jump in. "I have a sum saved and can do small work along the way to pay his share and-"
"No, no, Judas. We would all welcome the boy."
"Then I do not understand."
For once he could see the similarity between James and Jesus. Most commented on how Judas and Jesus seemed more brothers than those two, but with the look of true reluctance to speak, Jesus was nearly James' twin.
"Earlier this afternoon I went to see his father so I might apologize for returning his son so tardily."
"Ameil should not have troubled you with such things," Judas mumbled.
"Your nephew betrayed no confidence, Judas. He only said that he did not know why his father had shouted at you upon your return. I discerned the rest on my own."
"And because of that Kyle will not allow Ameil to join us?"
"That and the fact that he feels the boy is too easily influenced."
Jesus had that effect. His words swallowed your heart whole and made it beat all the stronger. Once emboldened, one could not keep one's affections hidden. "Kyle still should not have been so presumptuous to you."
Jesus seemed confused, then laughed. "Dear Judas, he was not resentful of me, but of you. He feels Ameil treats you more like a father than he, and he fears if you spend a season alone with him that Kyle will lose him forever."
To this Judas could not argue. He and Ameil had forged a strong bond. So strong that he found himself bitter that they would now be separated. Jesus must have seen the transformation in his face.
"No one would blame you if you chose not to join us. The rest have the luxury of having their families follow in our footsteps. I know how divided your heart must be, and I would not force such a painful choice upon you."
Even though Jesus' words were kind, Judas could not help but wonder why the Savior had made certain to name him as one of the rarified Twelve and honor him with tending the ministry's purse before telling him of Ameil. It seemed Jesus meant to strengthen his sense of duty to equal that to his nephew.
"The boy..." Judas could not even finish his sentence. How had the child become so important to him? Ameil was not even from his loins, yet his heart ached at the thought of leaving him behind. Who would Judas teach to braid horsehair so tightly that you could use it as a lash for a scabbard? Whose silly, boyish antics would he laugh at each afternoon?
"I will leave you with this overnight, my friend."
Jesus went to exit the room, but Judas held out the bag of coins.
His friend frowned. "Will you give it no more consideration?"
Judas could only shake his head. At once it was an impossible decision, and yet one so easy to make. Jesus was a grown man. He had the full blessing of God upon his head. How could the Savior need him as Ameil did? For it was Judas who fathered the child. It did not matter that they shared only diluted blood. Ameil was as much Judas' as Kyle's. He could not abandon the child to follow Jesus, no matter how his heart wished it so.
He closed his friend's fingers over the leather drawstrings. "Andrew will make an excellent keeper of the purse, Jesus. James will not fret if you choose Andrew instead, and I think the others might be happier as well."
"Not Magdalene," Jesus said. "She holds you in great esteem."
"Perhaps, but I think she will understand best that Ameil needs me."
Without further argument Jesus left the room. Judas was at the same time relieved that his friend had not tried harder to tempt him, but also sad that Jesus could so easily part. His assessment was correct, then.
As he had feared for so long, the Savior had little need of Judas' company.
CHAPTER 14.
Underground tunnels beneath Budapest As they made their way through an especially low tunnel, Brandt's legs cramped at the slow pace and cool air. What should have been a brisk walk back to the underground chapel of St. Matthias Church had turned into an arduous trek.
It turned out that their tourist map only gave a vague impression of Budapest's labyrinth, rather than a representation of their actual conformation. Since this vast network of tunnels was off-limits to the public, there were no signs to warn them of the dozens of switchbacks, dead ends, and double cul-de-sacs.
The green glow of their chemical sticks cast an eerie glow on the textured walls. Formed over centuries of dribbling mineral water, every wall had a unique pattern. Some looked as if an artist had used a paintbrush to swirl the rock into seashell patterns, while others were marred like they had survived smallpox. Another appeared feathered and gnarled, similar to a coral reef only without being underwater. There were more than fifteen distinct types of patterns displayed in this cave system.
Or at least that's what Lopez's guidebook said.
For Brandt, these tunnels were nothing more than a means to an end. And the sooner they were out of the damp, unnaturally cool air, the better. A leather skirt was not exactly comfortable in fifty-two-degree weather.
On point, Svengurd had done his best to utilize the map and his compass, but advancement was slow at best. Between the cramped quarters and undocumented switchbacks, they had lost almost an hour.
An hour during which Rebecca might have been tortured or worse. But there was simply no hurrying this process along. Svengurd had slowed them to a crawl so they could study the smooth tunnel walls. Through trial and error they had realized that the manner in which the spring water dribbled down the limestone walls held clues to where the tunnel was leading. Rivulets deep into the stone usually meant they were on a major artery, while walls that were only dewy with moisture were more often than not dead ends.
The burgeoning number of stalactites and stalagmites had also slowed them. There was a reason these tunnels were restricted. The floor, slick with mineral water, was treacherous, and the sharp rocks jutted into their path, making steady movement tricky.
Even at such a slow pace, Brandt nearly ran into Davidson as the tunnel was plunged into darkness. Someone must have covered his glow stick.
"Svengurd has spotted a source of illumination up ahead."
Wordlessly, Brandt exchanged places with the private and pulled up alongside Svengurd. "You saw something?"
The tall man pointed to a distant spot. "Up ahead."
Brandt squinted, but couldn't see anything.
"Shut your eyes, Sarge."
He did as instructed, letting his eyes readjust to darkness, then slowly opened his lids. There it was. A pinpoint of light far ahead.
"Does it match the map?" he asked.
Svengurd nodded. "As best as I can tell with this POS."